Incompatible browser

Internet Explorer versions 7 and older have known compatibility and security issues with modern
web standards which affect next generation Web 2.0 websites. In our attempt to deliver a superior
experience, we no longer support Internet Explorer versions 7 and older.

Please upgrade to the latest
version of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or Chrome.

High performance green cleaning program

EQ3.1 |
Possible point

Intent

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment, by implementing, managing and auditing cleaning procedures and processes.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants that adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment, from powered cleaning equipment.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.

Reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems, and the environment.

Reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems, and the environment.

Reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems, and the environment.

Reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems, and the environment.

Reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.

Reduce exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particle contaminants, which adversely impact air quality, health, building finishes, building systems, and the environment.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants that adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment, from powered cleaning equipment.

To reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contaminants, which adversely affect air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems and the environment.

Requirements

Have in place during the performance period a high-performance cleaning program, supported by a green cleaning policy (IEQ Prerequisite 3: Green Cleaning Policy), that addresses the following:

Provide an appropriate staffing plan.

Implement a training of maintenance personnel in the hazards, use, maintenance, disposal and recycling of cleaning chemicals, dispensing equipment and packaging.

Use chemical concentrates with appropriate dilution systems to minimize chemical use wherever possible.

Credit substitution available

Implement sustainable purchasing for cleaning materials and products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags. Cleaning product and material purchases include items used by in-house staff or outsourced service providers. One point is awarded if 30% of the total annual purchases of these products (by cost) meet at least 1 of the following sustainability criteria:

Credit substitution available

Implement a program for the use of janitorial equipment that reduces building contaminants and minimizes environmental impact. The cleaning equipment program must require the following:

Vacuum cleaners are certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute “Green Label” Testing Program for vacuum cleaners and operate with a sound level of less than 70dBA.

Carpet extraction equipment used for restorative deep cleaning is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s “Seal of Approval” Testing Program for deep-cleaning extractors.

Powered floor maintenance equipment, including electric and battery-powered floor buffers and burnishers, is equipped with vacuums, guards and/or other devices for capturing fine particulates and operates with a sound level of less than 70dBA.

Propane-powered floor equipment has high-efficiency, low-emissions engines with catalytic converters and mufflers that meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for the specific engine size and operate with a sound level of less than 90dBA.

Automated scrubbing machines are equipped with variable-speed feed pumps and on-board chemical metering to optimize the use of cleaning fluids. Alternatively, the scrubbing machines use only tap water with no added cleaning products.

Powered equipment is ergonomically designed to minimize vibration, noise and user fatigue.

Equipment is designed with safeguards, such as rollers or rubber bumpers, to reduce potential damage to building surfaces.

Keep a log for all powered cleaning equipment to document the date of equipment purchase and all repair and maintenance activities and include vendor specification sheets for each type of equipment in use.

Credit substitution available

Employ permanent entryway systems (grilles, grates, mats) at least 10 feet (3 meters) long in the primary direction of travel to capture dirt and particulates entering the building at all public entry points, and develop the associated cleaning strategies to maintain those entryway systems as well as exterior walkways. Public entryways that are not in use or serve only as emergency exits are excluded from the requirements, as are private offices.

Develop, implement and maintain an indoor integrated pest management (IPM) plan, defined as managing indoor pests in a way that protects human health and the surrounding environment and that improves economic returns through the most effective, least-risk option. IPM calls for using least-toxic chemical pesticides, minimum use of chemicals, use only in targeted locations and use only for targeted species. IPM requires routine inspection and monitoring. The plan must include the following elements, integrated with any outdoor IPM plan used for the site as appropriate:

Integrated methods, site or pest inspections, pest population monitoring, evaluation of the need for pest control and 1 or more pest control methods, including sanitation, structural repairs, mechanical and living biological controls, other nonchemical methods, and if nontoxic options are unreasonable and have been exhausted, a least toxic pesticide.

Specification of the circumstances under which an emergency application of pesticides in a building or on surrounding grounds being maintained by building management can be conducted without complying with the earlier provisions.

A communications strategy directed to building occupants that addresses universal notification, which requires advance notice of not less than 72 hours before a pesticide under normal conditions and 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergencies, other than a least-toxic pesticide, is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds that the building management maintains.

Any cleaning products included in the integrated pest management policy must meet the requirements for IEQ Credit 3.3: Green Cleaning—Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials.

Have in place during the performance period a high-performance cleaning program, supported by a green cleaning policy (EQ Prerequisite 3), that addresses the following:

Appropriate staffing plan.

Implementation of training of maintenance personnel in the hazards, use, maintenance, disposal and recycling of cleaning chemicals, dispensing equipment and packaging.

Use of chemical concentrates with appropriate dilution systems to minimize chemical use wherever possible.

Use of sustainable cleaning and hard floor and carpet care products meeting the sustainability criteria outlined in EQ Credits 3.3–3.5.

Use of cleaning equipment meeting the sustainability criteria outlined in EQ Credit 3.6.

Utilize over the performance period entryway systems (grills, grates, mats etc.) to reduce the amount of dirt, dust, pollen and other particles entering the building at all entryways, and develop the associated cleaning strategies to maintain those entryway systems, as well as the exterior walkways.

Have in place over the performance period structural deck-to-deck partitions with separate outside exhausting, no air re-circulation and negative pressure in all janitorial closets. Provide hot and cold water and drains plumbed for appropriate disposal of liquid waste in areas where janitorial equipment and chemicals are stored and/or water and cleaning chemical concentrate mixing occurs.

Have in place over the performance period a low-impact environmental cleaning policy addressing:

Sustainable cleaning systems.

Use of sustainable cleaning products.

Use of chemical concentrates and appropriate dilution systems.

Proper training of maintenance personnel in the hazards, use, maintenance and disposal of cleaning chemicals, dispensing equipment and packaging.

Use of hand soaps that do not contain antimicrobial agents (other than as a preservative system), except where required by health codes and other regulations (i.e., food service and health care requirements).

Use of cleaning equipment that reduces impacts on IAQ.

Provide a copy of the low environmental impact pest management policy adopted by the organization:

The plan shall promote safer alternatives to chemical pesticides while preventing economic and health damage caused by pests. The plan shall implement the use of IPM techniques to reduce the need for reliance on chemical pesticides. When pesticides may be necessary, the plan shall ensure that clear and accurate notification concerning the use of pesticides be made available so that measures may be taken to prevent and address pest problems effectively without endangering occupants, janitorial workers or visitors.

The plan should address:

Integrated methods.

Site or pest inspections.

Pest population monitoring.

An evaluation of the need for pest control.

One or more pest control methods, including sanitation, structural repairs, mechanical and living biological controls, other non-chemical methods and, if nontoxic options are unreasonable and have been exhausted, a least toxic pesticide.

The plan shall include a communication strategy to provide notification of the IPM system. This shall include information and notice to tenants or directly to occupants in an owner-occupied building. The notice shall include a description of the integrated pest management system and a list of all pesticides, including any least toxic pesticide that may be used in the building as part of the integrated pest management system; the name, address, and telephone number of the contact person of the building; and a statement that the contact person maintains the product label and material safety data sheet (MSDS) of each pesticide used by the building, that the label or MSDS is available for review upon request, and that the contact person is available for information and comment.

The communications strategy shall address “Universal Notification,” which requires notification not less than 72 hours before a pesticide, other than a least toxic pesticide, is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds that the building maintains.

The plan shall address under what circumstances an emergency application of pesticides in a building or on surrounding grounds being maintained by the building can be conducted without complying with the earlier provisions. In addition, address notification strategies to ensure that occupants and janitorial workers are notified 24 hours in advance of the pesticide application.

Provide documentation that the Low Environmental Impact Pest Management Policy has been followed during the performance period.

Implement a policy for the use of janitorial equipment that maximizes effective reduction of building contaminants with minimum environmental impact.

Cleaning equipment policy needs to specify that:

Vacuum cleaners meet the requirements of the Carpet & Rug Institute “Green Label” Testing Program- Vacuum Cleaner Criteria and are capable of capturing 96% of particulates 0.3 microns in size and operate with a sound level less than 70dBA.

Hot water extraction equipment for deep cleaning carpets is capable of removing sufficient moisture such that carpets can dry in less than 24 hours.

Powered maintenance equipment including floor buffers, burnishers and automatic scrubbers is equipped with vacuums, guards and/or other devices for capturing fine particulates, and shall operate with a sound level less than 70dBA.

Where appropriate, active micro fiber technology is used to reduce cleaning chemical consumption and prolong life of disposable scrubbing pads.

Powered equipment is ergonomically designed to minimize vibration, noise and user fatigue.

Equipment has rubber bumpers to reduce potential damage to building surfaces.

A log will be kept for all powered housekeeping equipment to document the date of equipment purchase and all repair and maintenance activities and include vendor cut sheets for each type of equipment in use in the logbook.

Provide a copy of the low environmental impact pest management policy adopted by the organization:

The plan shall promote safer alternatives to chemical pesticides while preventing economic and health damage caused by pests. The plan shall implement the use of IPM techniques to reduce the need for reliance on chemical pesticides. When pesticides may be necessary, the plan shall ensure that clear and accurate notification concerning the use of pesticides be made available so that measures may be taken to prevent and address pest problems effectively without endangering occupants, janitorial workers or visitors.

The plan should address:

Integrated methods.

Site or pest inspections.

Pest population monitoring.

An evaluation of the need for pest control.

One or more pest control methods, including sanitation, structural repairs, mechanical and living biological controls, other non-chemical methods and, if nontoxic options are unreasonable and have been exhausted, a least toxic pesticide.

The plan shall include a communication strategy to provide notification of the IPM system. This shall include information and notice to tenants or directly to occupants in an owner-occupied building. The notice shall include a description of the integrated pest management system and a list of all pesticides, including any least toxic pesticide that may be used in the building as part of the integrated pest management system; the name, address, and telephone number of the contact person of the building; and a statement that the contact person maintains the product label and material safety data sheet (MSDS) of each pesticide used by the building, that the label or MSDS is available for review upon request, and that the contact person is available for information and comment.

The communications strategy shall address “Universal Notification,” which requires notification not less than 72 hours before a pesticide, other than a least toxic pesticide, is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds that the building maintains.

The plan shall address under what circumstances an emergency application of pesticides in a building or on surrounding grounds being maintained by the building can be conducted without complying with the earlier provisions. In addition, address notification strategies to ensure that occupants and janitorial workers are notified 24 hours in advance of the pesticide application.

Provide documentation that the Low Environmental Impact Pest Management Policy has been followed during the performance period.

Implement a program for the use of janitorial equipment that reduces building contaminants and minimizes environmental impact. The cleaning equipment program must require the following:

Vacuum cleaners are certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute “Green Label” Testing Program for vacuum cleaners and operate with a sound level of less than 70dBA.

Carpet extraction equipment used for restorative deep cleaning is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s “Seal of Approval” Testing Program for deep-cleaning extractors.

Powered floor maintenance equipment, including electric and battery-powered floor buffers and burnishers, is equipped with vacuums, guards and/or other devices for capturing fine particulates and operates with a sound level of less than 70dBA.

Propane-powered floor equipment has high-efficiency, low-emissions engines with catalytic converters and mufflers that meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for the specific engine size and operate with a sound level of less than 90dBA.

Automated scrubbing machines are equipped with variable-speed feed pumps and on-board chemical metering to optimize the use of cleaning fluids. Alternatively, the scrubbing machines use only tap water with no added cleaning products.

Powered equipment is ergonomically designed to minimize vibration, noise and user fatigue.

Equipment is designed with safeguards, such as rollers or rubber bumpers, to reduce potential damage to building surfaces.

Keep a log for all powered cleaning equipment to document the date of equipment purchase and all repair and maintenance activities and include vendor specification sheets for each type of equipment in use.

All cleaning equipment purchased for initial occupancy must be included.

Develop, implement and maintain an indoor integrated pest management (IPM) plan, defined as managing indoor pests in a way that protects human health and the surrounding environment and that improves economic returns through the most effective, least-risk option. IPM calls for using least-toxic chemical pesticides, minimum use of chemicals, use only in targeted locations and use only for targeted species. IPM requires routine inspection and monitoring. The plan must include the following elements, integrated with any outdoor IPM plan used for the site as appropriate:

Integrated methods, site or pest inspections, pest population monitoring, evaluation of the need for pest control and 1 or more pest control methods, including sanitation, structural repairs, mechanical and living biological controls, other nonchemical methods, and if nontoxic options are unreasonable and have been exhausted, a least toxic pesticide.

Specification of the circumstances under which an emergency application of pesticides in a building or on surrounding grounds being maintained by building management can be conducted without complying with the earlier provisions.

A communications strategy directed to building occupants that addresses universal notification, which requires advance notice of not less than 72 hours before a pesticide under normal conditions and 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergencies, other than a least-toxic pesticide, is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds that the building management maintains.

Any cleaning products included in the integrated pest management policy must meet the requirements for IEQ Credit 3.3: Green Cleaning—Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials.

Projects cannot earn both IEQ3.6 and SSc3. The performance period documentation is not required.

Join LEEDuser

Ask questions, share tips, and get notified of new forum posts by joining LEEDuser, a tool developed by BuildingGreen and supported by USGBC!

Sample forms

We welcome and value the opinions of our green building community. We are collecting feedback on LEED v4 during the 5th open commenting period. At this time, each USGBC site user may comment on the open credits.

Please note:

Only one comment per individual is allowed

Once the comment is submitted, it cannot be edited

Users may comment within the credit library, or on LEEDuser.com (but only one comment will be accepted for both sites)

Users must note if they want their comment to be private (and not viewable by the USGBC community)